Investigators at the site of the January 26 crash of a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter—which claimed the lives of basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his young daughter and seven others—said the aircraft missed clearing the hill it struck near Calabasas, California, by some 30 feet. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Bill English made a point during a press conference the next day to explain that, while clearing that ridge might have provided a few precious seconds to the pilot as he apparently struggled to regain control of the machine, there were other nearby hills that certainly would have posed additional threats. The accident flight, conducted under Part 135 rules, was tracked on radar while it was operating under special VFR conditions near Burbank and then through the Van Nuys area before it eventually disappeared in the hills along Highway 101 near Calabasas on that Sunday morning.
What We Know About the Kobe Bryant Accident
Key Takeaways:
- The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant crashed into a hillside in dense fog while operating under special VFR conditions, which required the pilot to remain clear of clouds.
- Despite the pilot being instrument-rated and experienced, the aircraft lacked a terrain avoidance and warning system (TAWS), a safety feature the NTSB had previously recommended but the FAA never mandated.
- NTSB data showed the helicopter lost communications at 2,300 feet and impacted the ground at high speed in a descending left bank with a rapid descent rate.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
